They were, already, from the very first hours, weaving a careful narrative in which they were the victims and I was the danger.

They had had a story ready before the ambulance had even reached me.

And that told me something chilling about the nature of what had happened: that it was not an eruption of uncontrolled rage they now regretted.

It was a plan, and the cover story was part of the plan, prepared in advance, as coldly as everything else.

Chapter 6 — Character Assassination

“There’s more,” Ramirez added, gently.